Malaise

What is Malaise?

Malaise is a feeling of unease or discomfort. You may feel “off,” not yourself, or not well. It can be hard to put into words. You don’t quite feel sick or ill, but you also don’t feel great. You may have heard of a similar term, called “fatigue.” Fatigue is a lack of energy and extreme tiredness that does not get better with rest. Fatigue is often a symptom of malaise. Most people will feel malaise at some point in their life.

Malaise can:

• Start before you have signs or symptoms of an illness or infection.
• Happen with autoimmune or chronic illness (like cancer).
• Be caused by a medication.
• Be linked to mental health (like trauma, depression, and anxiety).

You may have:

• Feelings of unease and discomfort.
• Lethargy (loss of energy).
• Weakness and body aches.
• Sad or “down” feelings.
• Brain fog and having a hard time focusing.
• Not being interested in things you usually enjoy.
• Loss of appetite (not feeling hungry).

These symptoms can start slowly or come on quickly. They can be long-lasting (chronic) or short-lasting (acute). If you are feeling malaise, you should call your provider to help find the cause.

How is malaise treated?

Treatment for malaise is based on what is causing it. To find the cause, you may need:

• Imaging tests, like an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI.
• Blood work, such as a complete blood count (CBC), electrolyte and mineral levels, thyroid levels, and inflammatory markers.

Some things you can do to help lessen the effects of malaise are to:

• Try to get enough sleep.
• Keep a healthy diet.
• Rest when you need to.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Stay active.
• Limit stress or find ways to work through it safely.

It is rare, but you can sometimes feel malaise before serious conditions, like a stroke or heart attack. If you have signs of a stroke, like trouble speaking or moving one side of your body, an uneven smile, a change in vision, or severe headache, call 911 right away. If you have signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain or pressure or pain in your jaw, neck, or shoulder, call 911 right away.

If you have been feeling malaise, talk with your provider about finding the cause and ways to lessen its effects.